John F. Gerity

SOUTH PORTLAND - John F. Gerity, 88, of Goudy Street, died Thursday, October 13, 2011, at Mercy Hospital in Portland. He was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on April 26, 1923, the 4th of 6 children born to William and Florence (Bryson) Gerity. He graduated in 1941 from Our Ladys' Help of Christian School in Newton, MA where he was an accomplished student/athlete, being named All Scholastic shortstop for the Boston Parochial League. John also attended Boston University. John answered his country's call to service in 1943 and served in the US Army for three years, beginning his distinguished military career at Fort Devens, MA and serving at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana, where he attended the US Army Finance School and played 3rd base for the Fort Harrison Baseball team. From there he transferred to Fort Eustis, VA and then served with the US Army Finance Corps in Cheltenham, England. He was transferred to France, where he was accepted to Officer's Candidate School and received his Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was stationed 30 miles from the Battle of the Bulge. When the war ended, his service didn't. As Officer of his Regiment, while stationed on the France/Switzerland border, he served for eight more months, stationed at the Nuremburg War Trials, prior to returning to the US as a 1st Lieutenant in August of 1946. Upon his return from service to his country, he began his 40 year railroad career as a messenger with the Boston Maine Railroad. On his birthday in 1947, he married the love of his life, Marie S. Lecher, whom he had met at Boston Maine and there began a love story for the ages. Three months after the birth of his first daughter, Uncle Sam recalled him to active duty, as a result of the Korean War in 1950. He spent the next 18 months in Tokyo and Okinawa. He declined a promotion to Captain to return to civilian life, his wife, and family. Upon his return in 1952, he continued his railroad career as a statistician with Boston Maine 1952. He moved to Maine Central Railroad and transferred to Portland in 1955, where he continued to move up the corporate ladder, holding positions of Auditor of Disbursements, Assistant Comptroller, Clerk of the Corporation, Comptroller, Vice President and then culminating in his appointment to President of Maine Central Railroad in 1978. Through hard work and dedication to his family and his career, he realized the American Dream of rising from messenger to president. He remained as President when Maine Central was acquired by Timothy Mellon and Guilford Transportation Industries, retiring in 1986, as Vice Chairman of the Board for Guilford Transportation Industries. He and Marie enjoyed 25 years of retirement being an integral part of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren's lives. John was very actively involved in his community and spiritual endeavors. He was the 1st President elected to the Holy Cross Parish Council and served in that capacity for two years. He was a former President of St. Elizabeth's Home and Holy Innocents Home. He was appointed to the Bishops Financial Council for the Catholic Church for the State of Maine. He was also very active in the Portland Lion's Club #2344 and the Grand Knights of Columbus. John was an avid golfer and was a member of Riverside Golf Course for over 30 years, playing with the same group of Walter Towle, Steve Conley, and Archie Merrill for most of those years. He was pre-deceased by his brother William Gerity, and sisters, Florence Coen, Lillian Leonard, Dorothy and Marjorie Gerity. He is survived by his wife of 64 years; two daughters, Linda Knights and husband Nick of South Portland and Pamela Martin and her husband Mike of Scarborough; a son, Michael Gerity and his fianc(c)e Suzanne Roux of Springvale; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Visiting hours will be held 3:00 - 6:00 pm, Sunday, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited 10:15 am, Monday, at the chapel, followed by an 11:00 am Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Cross Church, corner of Broadway and Cottage Road, South Portland. Burial with military honors will take place at New Calvary Cemetery, South Portland. Online Condolences for John Gerity